Catheter advancement and placement unit

Abstract

A catheter placement unit for initial exposure of a stylet point and subsequent shifting of the catheter to a predetermined position coextensively overlying the point, by a manually operable lever disposed to one side of the unit in relation to the rotative position of the point and exposing the flashback chamber thereof.

I claim: 
     
       1. A catheter placement unit comprised of a catheter removably engaged over a stylet; the stylet being comprised of a tubular needle sharpened at its forward distal end and carried at its base end by a hub with a forwardly faced flange and a rearward extension,   the catheter being comprised of a tubular sleeve slideably engageable over the stylet needle and having a hub with a rearwardly disposed face opposed to the forwardly faced flange of the stylet,   there being lever means with a fulcrum at a side of the unit and engaged between the forwardly faced flange of the stylet hub and the rearwardly disposed face of the catheter hub and manually operable into stopped engagement with said rearward extension to shift the catheter into coextensive placement over the stylet needle and point thereof.   
     
     
       2. The catheter placement unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever means has a leg with a bore loosely engaged over the stylet hub and disposed between the forwardly faced flange of the stylet hub and the rearwardly disposed face of the catheter hub. 
     
     
       3. The catheter placement unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever means has a first leg engaged between the forwardly faced flange of the stylet hub and the rearwardly disposed face of the catheter hub, and has a second leg extending rearwardly at the side of the rearward extension of the stylet hub to have stopped engagement therewith to angularly position said first leg for predetermined movement. 
     
     
       4. The catheter placement unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lever means has a first leg with a bore loosely engaged over the stylet hub and disposed between the forwardly faced flange of the stylet hub and the rearwardly disposed face of the catheter hub, and a second leg extending rearwardly at the side of the rearward extension of the stylet hub to have stopped engagement therewith to angularly position said first leg for predetermined movement. 
     
     
       5. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein pivot means secures the lever means to the side of the unit. 
     
     
       6. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein pivot means secures the lever means to the flange of the stylet hub at the side of the unit. 
     
     
       7. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the lever means is snapped onto pivot means comprised of opposed lugs engageable into opposite sockets in the fulcrum of the lever means. 
     
     
       8. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the lever means is snapped onto pivot means comprised of opposed lugs with seal spherical faces engaged into opposite semi spherical sockets in the fulcrum of the lever means. 
     
     
       9. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein pivot means is disposed on a vertical axis related to a horizontal truncation that forms the needle point and secures the lever means to the side of the unit, whereby the rearward extension of the stylet hub is upwardly visible. 
     
     
       10. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein pivot means is disposed on a vertical axis related to an upwardly faced horizontal truncation that forms the needle point and secures the lever means to the side of the unit, whereby the rearward extension of the stylet hub is upwardly visible. 
     
     
       11. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein pivot means is disposed on a vertical axis at the right side of the unit and related to a horizontal truncation that forms the needle point and secures the lever means to the side of the unit, whereby the rearward extension of the stylet hub is upwardly visible. 
     
     
       12. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the first and second legs of the lever means are obtusely related. 
     
     
       13. The catheter placement unit as set forth in any one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the first and second legs of the lever means are obtusely separated at substantially 110°.